Any Question? Email Us
info@nepalhimalayastrekking.comTalk To An Expert ( Prakash Lamsal )
Any Question? Email Us
info@nepalhimalayastrekking.comTalk To An Expert ( Prakash Lamsal )
The Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is a 22-day guided journey in eastern Nepal to both base camps of Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the world’s third-highest mountain. You reach Pangpema, the North Base Camp, at 5,143 m, cross the Sele La pass system, and stand beneath the south face at Oktang (4,730 m). Our full-board package costs US$2,190 per person, permits and licensed guide included.
This is Nepal’s quiet giant. On the Everest trail you share the path with thousands of trekkers each season; here you may walk a whole day and meet only yak herders, porters and a few lodge families. The route climbs from cardamom farms and Limbu villages at 1,500 m, through bamboo and rhododendron forest, to the Tibetan Buddhist village of Ghunsa and the glaciers below the north face.
It is a serious trek: 15 days on the trail, 11 nights above 3,500 m, simple teahouses, and roads that can wash out. That is exactly why it rewards the trekkers who choose it. If you have done Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit or Manaslu and want the next step, this is it.
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Duration | 22 days Kathmandu to Kathmandu (15 days on the trail) |
Base camps visited | North: Pangpema 5,143 m · South: Oktang viewpoint 4,730 m |
Highest sleeping altitude | Lhonak, 4,780 m |
High pass | Sele La system, highest point about 4,700 m (Mirgin La 4,663 m) |
Trekking distance | About 175–200 km on foot |
Daily walking | 5–7 hours; longest days 8–9 hours |
Difficulty | Strenuous (no climbing skills needed) |
Best seasons | Spring: March–May · Autumn: late September–November |
Accommodation | 3 nights hotel in Kathmandu, 18 nights lodges and teahouses |
Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner on trek |
Access | Flight Kathmandu–Bhadrapur (about 45–50 min), then jeep via Taplejung |
Permits | Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit + Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit (we arrange both) |
Guide rule | Restricted area: a licensed guide arranged by a registered agency is mandatory |
Group size | Private trek or small group; minimum 2 trekkers |
Price | US$2,190 per person (solo: US$2,290) |
Option | Days | Highest point | Pass crossing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Circuit – this trip | 22 | Pangpema 5,143 m | Yes, Sele La system | Experienced trekkers who want the complete Kanchenjunga experience |
North Base Camp only | 15–18 | Pangpema 5,143 m | No | Less time; same top view; returns the same way |
South Base Camp only | 12–14 | Oktang 4,730 m | No | Lower altitude; first remote trek |
Kathmandu → Bhadrapur → Taplejung → Sekathum → Amjilosa → Gyabla → Ghunsa → Kambachen → Lhonak → Pangpema (North Base Camp) → Ghunsa → Sele Le → Sele La / Mirgin La → Tseram → Ramche → Oktang (South Base Camp) → Tortong → Yamphudin → Bhadrapur → Kathmandu
We trek north first. The northern valley gains altitude gradually and gives you the acclimatisation you need before the passes and the south side.
Day | Route | Overnight altitude | Time | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Arrive in Kathmandu | 1,400 m | – | Hotel |
2 | Kathmandu: permits, gear check, trek briefing | 1,400 m | – | Hotel |
3 | Fly to Bhadrapur, drive to Taplejung | 1,820 m | 45 min flight + 8–9 h drive | Lodge |
4 | Jeep Taplejung to Sekathum | 1,576 m | 4–6 h drive | Teahouse |
5 | Sekathum to Amjilosa | 2,308 m | 6–7 h | Teahouse |
6 | Amjilosa to Gyabla | 2,730 m | 5–6 h | Teahouse |
7 | Gyabla to Ghunsa | 3,595 m | 5–6 h | Teahouse |
8 | Acclimatisation day in Ghunsa | 3,595 m | 3–4 h hike | Teahouse |
9 | Ghunsa to Kambachen | 4,050 m | 5–6 h | Teahouse |
10 | Acclimatisation: Jannu viewpoint hike | 4,050 m | 3–4 h hike | Teahouse |
11 | Kambachen to Lhonak | 4,780 m | 4–5 h | Teahouse |
12 | Hike to Pangpema (5,143 m), return to Lhonak | 4,780 m | 7–8 h | Teahouse |
13 | Lhonak to Ghunsa | 3,595 m | 7–8 h | Teahouse |
14 | Ghunsa to Sele Le (base of the pass) | 4,290 m | 4–5 h | Basic teahouse |
15 | Cross Sele La, Mirgin La (4,663 m), Sinion La to Tseram | 3,870 m | 8–9 h | Teahouse |
16 | Tseram to Ramche | 4,580 m | 3–4 h | Teahouse |
17 | Hike to Oktang (4,730 m), descend to Tseram | 3,870 m | 6–7 h | Teahouse |
18 | Tseram to Tortong | 2,995 m | 5–6 h | Teahouse |
19 | Tortong to Yamphudin | 2,080 m | 6–7 h | Teahouse |
20 | Drive Yamphudin to Birtamod / Ilam | about 300–1,600 m | 8–10 h drive | Hotel |
21 | Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu; farewell dinner | 1,400 m | 1 h drive + 45 min flight | Hotel |
22 | Final departure | – | – | – |
Day 1 – Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m). We meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Rest after the flight; in the evening, your guide introduces the route and checks your plans.
Day 2 – Permits, gear check and briefing. We finalise your Restricted Area Permit with the Department of Immigration (bring your passport). Your guide checks your boots, sleeping bag and layers, and you can rent or buy anything missing in Thamel.
Day 3 – Fly to Bhadrapur, drive to Taplejung (1,820 m). A 45–50 minute flight takes you to the eastern plains. The jeep then climbs through the Ilam tea gardens to Taplejung, the district headquarters. It is a long day; on clear mornings Kanchenjunga shows on the horizon.
Day 4 – Jeep to Sekathum (1,576 m). A rough road follows the Tamor River past Mitlung and Chirwa to Sekathum, where the Ghunsa and Tamor rivers meet. The restricted-area checkpoint is on this road. [Road conditions change; in some seasons the jeep stops earlier and you walk the last section.]
Day 5 – Sekathum to Amjilosa (2,308 m), 6–7 h. The trail enters the narrow Ghunsa Khola gorge, crossing suspension bridges and climbing steep stone steps past waterfalls. Amjilosa is a handful of houses on a forested ridge.
Day 6 – Amjilosa to Gyabla (2,730 m), 5–6 h. A gentler day through bamboo, oak and rhododendron forest – red panda habitat. Gyabla is the first village with a clear Tibetan character.
Day 7 – Gyabla to Ghunsa (3,595 m), 5–6 h. You pass Phale, a village founded by Tibetan refugees with its own monastery, then follow meadows to Ghunsa: stone houses, prayer flags, a health post and the conservation office.
Day 8 – Acclimatisation in Ghunsa. Hike 400–500 m above the village and return to sleep low. Visit the monastery and rest. This day matters: the next four nights are at 4,050 m and higher.
Day 9 – Ghunsa to Kambachen (4,050 m), 5–6 h. The forest thins to juniper and scree. Cross the landslide section with care and arrive under the vast north face of Jannu.
Day 10 – Acclimatisation: Jannu viewpoint. A 3–4 hour hike to about 4,500 m for close views of Jannu (Kumbhakarna, 7,710 m) and its glacier. Many trekking itineraries skip this day; we keep it because it makes the Pangpema day safer and more enjoyable.
Day 11 – Kambachen to Lhonak (4,780 m), 4–5 h. The valley opens into moraine and glacial streams beside the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Lhonak is a few stone lodges in a wide, wind-swept basin with Wedge Peak above.
Day 12 – Pangpema, North Base Camp (5,143 m), 7–8 h return. Start before sunrise and follow the moraine to Pangpema. The north face of Kanchenjunga fills the head of the valley. Spend time at the top, then return to Lhonak to sleep lower.
Day 13 – Lhonak to Ghunsa (3,595 m), 7–8 h. A long descent on the same trail. Thicker air and the first trees make the day easier than it looks on paper.
Day 14 – Ghunsa to Sele Le (4,290 m), 4–5 h. A steep climb through rhododendron and pine to the base of the pass. The lodges here are very basic; sleep early.
Day 15 – Cross the Sele La system to Tseram (3,870 m), 8–9 h. The hardest day. You cross a chain of saddles – Sele La, Mirgin La (4,663 m), Sinion La – with views of Jannu and, on clear days, Makalu and Everest far to the west. A long, steep descent ends at Tseram. In snow, your guide decides the timing and route; we carry micro-spikes when needed.
Day 16 – Tseram to Ramche (4,580 m), 3–4 h. A short climb past the snout of the Yalung Glacier, small lakes and yak pastures, with Kabru and Rathong ahead.
Day 17 – Oktang, South Base Camp (4,730 m), and down to Tseram, 6–7 h. Walk the ablation valley to the Oktang viewpoint, where the south face rises above the Yalung Glacier. Return past Ramche to sleep lower at Tseram.
Day 18 – Tseram to Tortong (2,995 m), 5–6 h. A steep descent back into forest along the Simbuwa Khola.
Day 19 – Tortong to Yamphudin (2,080 m), 6–7 h. Climb over the Lamite Bhanjyang ridge for a last view of Kanchenjunga and Jannu, then descend to the mixed Limbu, Rai, Sherpa and Gurung village of Yamphudin. Celebrate with your crew.
Day 20 – Drive to Birtamod or Ilam, 8–10 h. The trek ends; a jeep takes you down the Kabeli valley and through the eastern hills.
Day 21 – Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu. Afternoon in Kathmandu and a farewell dinner with the Nepal Himalayas Trekking team.
Day 22 – Final departure. Transfer to the airport.
The 22-day Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek costs US$2,190 per person for two or more trekkers and US$2,290 for a solo traveller. The price is all-inclusive on the trail: permits, flights, ground transport, guide, porter, three meals a day, and every night’s accommodation.
Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
1 trekker | US$2,290 |
2 or more trekkers | US$2,190 |
Budget separately: international flights; Nepal visa (US$50 for 30 days); travel insurance; drinks and snacks; hot showers, Wi-Fi and charging on the trail (about US$2–5 each); tips for guide, porter and drivers. Most trekkers spend US$150–300 on extras over the 22 days.
For a full breakdown, read our Kanchenjunga trek cost breakdown.
Start date | End date | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
[e.g. 2 Apr 2027] | [23 Apr 2027] | US$2,190 | Available |
[e.g. 20 Apr 2027] | [11 May 2027] | US$2,190 | Available |
[e.g. 1 Oct 2027] | [22 Oct 2027] | US$2,190 | Available |
[e.g. 20 Oct 2027] | [10 Nov 2027] | US$2,190 | Available |
Private departures run on any date in spring and autumn.
Kanchenjunga is a restricted area, so foreign trekkers need two permits, and both must be issued through a government-registered agency such as Nepal Himalayas Trekking.
Permit | Fee for foreigners | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit (Taplejung) | US$20 per person per week for the first 4 weeks; US$25 per week after that | Department of Immigration, Kathmandu |
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit (KCAP) | NPR 2,000 per person, valid for the whole trek [confirm – see section 8] | Nepal Tourism Board / KCAP checkpoint |
Both permits are included in your package. We need a scanned passport (valid 6+ months), your Nepal visa details and a passport photo at least one week before Day 2. The restricted-area rules also require you to trek with a licensed guide through a registered agency.
The Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is strenuous: not technical, but long, high and remote. You walk 5–7 hours most days for 15 days, sleep 11 nights above 3,500 m, cross a pass system near 4,700 m, and reach 5,143 m at Pangpema.
What makes it harder than Everest Base Camp:
You do not need climbing skills. You do need good cardio fitness and previous multi-day trekking experience. Train for 8–12 weeks: long hikes of 5–7 hours with a 6–8 kg pack, stair climbing and leg strength work. Read more in our Kanchenjunga trek difficulty guide.
Our itinerary includes two acclimatisation days (Ghunsa at 3,595 m and Kambachen at 4,050 m) and, once above Ghunsa, never sleeps more than about 730 m higher than the night before. We day-hike to Pan